Non-sinkable boat



J. J. BROS'NAN,

NON-SINKABLE BOAT.

APPUCATION FiLED APR.15, I918. RENEWED jun. 13, 1920.

1,355,937. Patented Oct. 19, 1920.

y MM:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JonNnBRosNAN, OF wonons'rnn, MASSACHUSETTS.

' noN-sI NKAB E- BOAT.

Specification-of Letters Patent. Patented Oct. 19, 1920.

Application filed April 15, 1918, Seria1'No.228,554. Renewed July 13,1920. Serial No. 395,996.

To all whom it may concern: 1.

Be it known that I, JOHN J. BROSNAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Worcester. in the county of Worcester and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Non-Sinkable Boat, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for preventing a boat from sinking,and also to reduce rocking and it involves improvements in details ofconstruction. thereof and also to a device for floating the cargo on theboat to keep it out of the water in case the boat starts to sink.

The principal objects of the inventlon are to provide simple and easilymanipulated means for accomplishing the above men- 7 tioned purposes.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 isa transverse sectional View of a boat with a preferred embodiment ofthis invention applied thereto, and

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

The invention is shown as applied to a boat 10, the details of which arenot shown as the invention can be applied to any type of boat.

Pivots 12 are arranged longitudinally, preferably just above the waterline, and on these pivots are pivotally mounted frames or plates 13.When not in use these frames extend upwardly and substantially contactwith the sides of the boat, springs 14 being provided for forcing theirupper ends away from the side of the boat when released.

These frames are provided with casings 15 of sheet steel hermeticallysealed and filled with compressed air preferably. These are arrangedlongitudinally along the frames 13 in the form shown and are providedwith communicating pipes 16 having check valves 17 permitting thechambers to be filled with compressed air but preventing leakage inthe'opposite direction, so that if some of them get injured others willstill be effective.

A chain or cable 19 is shown connected with the outer casing or with theframe 13 and wound on a Windlass 20 or the like inside the boat forholding the device in the vertical Fig. '1.

Inside the boat there are horizontal cylinders 21 having pistons 22provided with all along the sides of the boat.

position as shown on the left in rods 23 adapted to project out over theframe. 13 whenthe latter is lowered as shown, at the right in Fig. 1, tohold this frame down, and keep it rigidly connected with the boat whenit tends to sink. This is accomplished without a rigid connection thatwould otherwise hamper the motion of the boat. These piston rods passthrough paokings 24'extending through the side of the boat.

The boat is also shown as provided with a false bottom 25 for receivingthe cargo. particularly any cargo that would be injured or renderedexplosive by coming into contact with the water. Underneath this falsebottom are buoyant air tanks 26 similar to the casings 15 connected witheach other in the same way and preferably shaped to conform to the shapeof the bottom of boat. These casings are guided by a series of fixedguides 27. Now if water gets into the hold it will cause this falsebottom to float and keepits contents out of contact with the water, ifthe boat does not sink. IVhen danger arises and especially after theboatis hit, the chains are allowed to he paid out, and the springs 14push the frames 13 out at the top so they swing. down The plungers areforced out by introducing air or steam into the cylinders 21 behind thepis tons. This readily holds the frames down on or near the surface ofthe water and permits the buoyancy of the air-filled caslngs to betransmitted to the boat itself so asto hold it up or partially hold itso that it cannot sink absolutely. The casings are filled withcompressed air to prevent their collapsing under the pressure of thewater.

Another use to which the device can be put is to lower these frames intothe water and reduce therocking of the boat during storms.

' Although I have illustrated and described only a single form of theinvention I am aware of the fact that modifications can be made thereinby any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of theinvention as expressed in the claims. Therefore I do not wish to belimited to all the details of construction herein shown and described,but what I do claim is:-'

1. The combination with a boat, of a pivoted buoyant frame on theoutside thereof, and means within the boat for engaging the top of saidframe throughout its width and holding it down in contact with the wateri and preventing it from rising whenever the boat tends to sink so thatits buoyancy will assist in holding the boat up but leavlng it freelymovable upwardly and downwardly about its pivot below its horizontalposition.

2. The combination with a-boat, of a frame pivoted to the outsidethereof longi fixed my signature.

frame can be swung about its pivotinto horizontal position so that saidbuoyant compartments will lie on the surface of the water a cylinder inthe boat having a piston therein, and a rod connected with said pistonarranged to be projected thereby through the side of the boat intocontact with the top of said frame.

i In testimony whereof I have hereunto at- JOHN J BROSNAN.

